Post-obstetrical catamenial pad



Jan.. 27, 1970 R, SAMUEL POST-OBSTETRICAL CATAMENIAL PAD Filed April 20, 1967 United States Patent O 3,491,759 POST-OBSTETRICAL CATAMENIAL PAD Robert Samuel, 874 Monroe Terrace,

Dover, Del. 19901 Filed Apr. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 632,323 Int. Cl. A61f 13/20; A61l 15/00 U.S. Cl. 128-290 10 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The post-obstetrical catamenial pad is in the form of an elongated body member which includes a relatively thick readily absorbent padded area with a narrower and thinner portion adjacent to the padded portion. This thin portion carries a medicament such as one particularly suitable for post-obstetrical disorders such as hemorrhoids. Additionally, a fluid impervious shield is under the medicament applicating portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Catamenial pads or sanitary napkins have long existed and are constantly undergoing improvement. Specialized pads have long existed for particular purposes. One such pad, for example, is described in U.S. Patent 654,856. The device therein is adapted for both catamenial purposes and for treating hernias by means of mechanical support. Additionally it is known to supply various catamenial pads with different substances which are designed to achieve deodorizing effects or to render the fluid colorless such as described in U.S. Patents\ 3,124,135 and 2,066,946. It is also known to provide sanitary napkins in general with fluid impervious sheets such as described in U.S. Patent 2,973,760. Other pertinent disclosures are found in U.S. Patents 144,145; 1,192,439; and 3,081,515.

Although those skilled in the art have been aware of such specialized catamenial devices from periods of time as far back as U.S. Patent 654,856, referred to above, there has never been a catamenial device or sanitary napykin which was specifically designed to satisfactorily treat problems or disorders attendant after birth. In view of the high birth rate there exists a definite need for such a device.

BRIIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a catamenial pad or sanitary napkin which is particularly suitable for post-obstetrical use.

A further object is to provide such a pad which is especially effective in treating hemorrhoids.

This invention takes into consideration the fact that during the post-obstetrical period the Woman is not too active and thus does not require a catamenial pad of as large a contact area as in conventional pads. This invention also takes into account the fact that hemorrhoids is a problem frequently attendant after birth. Additionally, it is necessary to perform an episiotomy for most women giving birth to their iirst child. This invention takes into account above facts by providing a catamenial device having a padded area of smaller contact surface than with conventional devices whereby the remainder of the pad can function as a medicament applicator for supplying suitable medicaments for treating hemorrhoids or for healing incisions made during an episiotomy. For maximum comfort to the user the medicament applicating portion is narrower and thinner than the padded portion which in turn may be thicker than conventional pads. Additionally a fluid impervious shield extends under the applicating portion to confine the medicament on or near the surface in contact with the user.

3,491,759 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 ice The post-obstetrical catamenial pad may also include a number of advantageous features. For example the uid impervious shield may extend to the padded area as Well as the applicating area to prevent leakage of the absorbed fluid. To further confine the absorbed fluid in the padded area the impervious shield may also extend as a wall between the padded portion an applicating portion. The entire pad may be covered with a gauze overwrap and a plurality of oversize holes may be provided in a concentrated area of a padded portion to enhance its absorbing function. It is suflicient to have these oversize holes in a concentrated area since the fluid is discharged in a confined area. For added comfort the pad may be bowed both laterally and longitudinally so as to more closely conform to .the users body. Where the pad is designed for treating hemorrhoids the applicating portion is made at least three inches long and is no greater than one and a half inches wide.

THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION As best shown in FIG. 2, the catamenial pad 10 is in the form of an elongated body member having a pair of ends 12 which during use are secured to a suitable fastener 14 (FIG. 1) on the user. A portion 16 of pad 10 is made of a suitable readily absorbent material while an adjacent portion 18 is substantially narrower and thinner than the padded portion. The entire pad is encased in a gauze overwrap 20, the ends of which may constitute ends 12.

As shown in FIG. 3 a fluid impervious shield 22 extends under both padded portion 16 and narrower portion 18. Additionally shield 22 may be folded over as at 24 to form a wall or barrier between portions 16 an 18 as later described.

Since the user is generally not very active while using a post-obstetrical pad, the padded portion is made with less Contact area than with conventional pads. Suitable dimensions, for example for padded portion 16 may be ve inches long with the width being three inches and the thickness one and a quarter inch. The extra thickness provides for more absorbtive ability of padded portion 16. To further facilitate absorbtive ability of padded portion 16 a `plurality of oversize openings 26 are provided through the gauze overwrap into the Ipadded portion. Since the absorbed fluid is discharged in a confined area it is merely necessary to arrange these oversize openings 26 in a concentrated portion of padded element 16. For example the oversize holes or openings are in an area of less than half the total surface of padded portion 16. The provisions of fluid impervious shield 22 and its folded portion 24 around padded portion 16 provides satisfactory barriers for preventing leakage of the absorbed fluid. In this respect it is noted that folded portion 24 is disposed adjacent the oversized openings 26. If desired the shield may be provided on all sides of padded portion 16, excluding the surface in contact with the user.

Portion 18 of pad 10 is advantageously utilized for medically treating common post-obstetrical disorders. For example when pad 10 is intended as a means of treating hemorrhoids, a suitable medicament is applied to portion 18. Such medicaments are for example Husk First-Aid 3 Ointment supplied by Bullock-Walker Manufacturing Company or Benzocaine in KY Jelly supplied by VJohnson & Johnson. These samples of course are merely illustrative and in no way intending to be limiting. Where -portion 18 is designed for healing ncisions from an episiotomy Yother suitable medicaments may be used spch as for example ordinary petroleum jelly. 'i

The provision of iiid impervious shield 22 under medicament applicating' portion 18 assures maintaining the medicament at or near the surface ofY applicating portion 18 which is to beY disposed against the body of the user.

Where pad 10 is lintended Yto treat hemorrhoids the applicating portion 18is preferably frorn live to six inches long but must be atleast three inchesV long so as to enable padded portionf16 to be'disposed under Ythe vagina and applicating portion 18 torbe disposed in the anal area.

To maximize the comfort of thei'wearer applicating area 18 gently slopes from the relatively wide padded portion to a narrower applicating portion. Applicating portion 18 is preferably between one and one and a half inches wide but should not exceed one and a half inches in widtlror it may add unnecessary discomfort to the wearer. To further enhance the comfort of the wearer the catamenial pad is bowed both longitudinally and laterally as shown for example in FIGS. 3-4.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention which is showrnin FIG. V5, the medicament is applied to a separate applicating member which is provided over the gauze overwrap 20 so as to assure intimate contact between the medicament and the body of the user. To maintain the medicament free from contamination a removable cover sheet 28 is applied over applicating member 26 and remains secured thereto until immediately before use.

C-bviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A post-obstetrical catamenial pad comprising an elongated body member, the ends of said body member being adapted to facilitate the fastening of the pad on the user, a portion of said pad being relatively thick and made of a readily absorbent material, the remaining portion of said body member being adjacent to said padded portion and being thinner and narrower than said padded portion, a medicament being on said remaining portion whereby said remaining portion functions as a medicament applicating portion, a uid impervious shield being under said applicating portion, said shield extending under both said applicating portion and said padded portion, and said shield extending completely up the side of said padded portion adjacent to said applicating portion.

2. A pad as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body member is bowed both longitudinally and laterally.

3. A pad as set forth in claim 1 wherein said medica ment is of an anti-hemorrhoidal composition.

4. A pad as set forth in claim 1 wherein said applicating portion is at least three inches long and is no greater than one and one-half inches wide.

5. A pad as set forth in claim 1 wherein a gauze overwrap covers said padded portion and said'shield, an applicating member being over said overwrap on said applicating portion, said medicament being applied said applicating member, and a removable cover sheet being over said applicating member.

6. A post-obstetrical catamenial pad comprising an elongated body. member, the ends of said body member beingfadapted'to facilitate the fastening of the pad on the user, a portion of said pad being relatively thick and made of a readily absorbent material,'the remaining portion of saidbody member being adjacent to said padded portion and being thinner and narrower than said padded portion, a medicament being on said remaining portionV whereby said remaining portion functions as amedicanient applicating portion, a liuid impervious shield being under said applicating portion, said body member including a gauze overwrap around said padded portion and said applicating portion, and a plurality of oversize holes being in the upper surface of said overwrap over a concentrated area of said padded portion. i f

7. A pad as set forth in claim 6 wherein said body member is bpwed both longitudinally and laterally.

8. A pad as set forth in claim 6 wherein said medicament is of an anti-hemorrhoidal composition.

9. A pad as set forth in claim 6Y wherein said applicating portion is at least three inches long and is no greater than one and one-half inches wide.

10. A post-obstetrical catamenial pad comprising an elongated body member, the ends of said body member being adapted to facilitate the fastening of the pad on the user, a portion of said pad being relatively thick and made of a readily absorbent material, the remaining portion of said body member being adjacent to said padded portion and being thinner and narrower than said padded portion, a medicament being on said remaining portion whereby said remaining portion functions as a medicament applicating portion, a uid impervious shield being under said applicating portion, said shield extending under both said applicating portion and said padded portion and up the side of said padded portion adjacent to said applicating portion, a gauze overwrap being around said body member and having a plurality of oversize holes in its top surface over a concentrated area of said padded portion, said body member being bowed both laterally and longitudinally, said medicament being of an anti-hemorrhoidal composition, and said applicating portion being at least three inches long and no greater' than one and one-half inches wide.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 632,727 9/1899 Kuyath 12S-98 2,331,271 10/1943 Gilchrist 12S-290 2,333,839 11/1943 Blackburn et al. 128-98 2,534,885 12/1950 Strouse 128-290 2,852,026 9/1958 Karr 128-290 3,116,736 1/1964 Alberts 128--98 3,294,091 12/1966 Morse 128-290 3,375,826 4/1968 Field 12S-290 3,403,681 10/1968 Hoey et al. 128-290 CHARLES F. ROSENBAUM, Primary Examiner 

